Why Does Mercury Stay Liquid While Other Metals Solidify at Room temperature?


Hey there! Do you ever think about why mercury is still in liquid state at room temperature while other metals are solid at room temperature? It’s a bit of a puzzle, but let's put it into words in a simple way.





To start with, a lot of metals such as iron, copper and gold melt at high temperatures, but mercury? It is cold around -38 degrees. 9°C (-38. 0°F). So, what’s the deal?


Basically, it is the outer electrons' behavior that is the main factor in determining the shape of an atom. This illustrates that the electrons do not easily stick together thus weakening the bond between mercury atoms. So, even a small amount of energy can cause them to split, breaking mercury into a liquid.


Now, picture this: Atoms bonding, some of their energy is stored in the bond and becomes unavailable. However, mercury has such a low energy in these bonds that even a small amount of movement can break them. And since heat is just an atomic level energy that is random, mercury doesn't need a lot of it to become liquid.


The reason why mercury is special is that it is absolutely different from the rest of the planets. It is found on a special spot on the periodic table where three things change at once.




In the first place, the outer electron shell is full, thus, it becomes easier for electrons to get out. Later, there is another thing known as lanthanide contraction, the electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus and hence they are disturbed with bonding. Besides, when we talk about relativistic effects, the picture is completed because of mercury's weight and its electrons are moving super fast.





By synthesizing all these factors, you have a metal that remains liquid at room temperature. Besides, mercury is not only interesting science, it's also why it is perfect for applications such as thermometers and barometers.


The fact that mercury is liquid while other metals are solid proves that it has a special quality and that makes it important for us to use it in our daily gadgets.

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